Mashed Potatoes

The mashed potatoes that Frida cooks for her family are a symbol not only of the domestic pressures she faces but also of the cruelty with which her step-sons treat her. Flip and Lucas complain that the potatoes, which Frida has labored over at some length, are not like the ones their mother made them. The altercation over the potatoes inspires feelings of hopelessness and doubt in Frida that typify her character in general.

The Downed Power Line

The power line that Kirby is forced to repair in advance of Hurricane Wanda is a symbol of the futility of human efforts at maintenance. Given that a hurricane is headed directly toward the area, fixing the power line—as Kirby and his crew grumble about—is so pointless as to be patently stupid; it will soon be brought down again anyway. This kind of bureaucratic but...